Making Christmas Dinner Paleo-Friendly

Christmas is coming and that means that the whole family is going to get together and eat, eat, eat. We all love Christmas dinner – even the pets. But sticking to your diet can be hard (if it’s even possible) most of the time. I love spending time with my family and getting in the festive mood, but I also love sticking to my Paleo Diet (I love my paleo salads) and making sure that I’m not going to have to spend months in the gym working off a holiday period.

To help all of you out there like me, these Christmas Dinner Paleo recipes will make sure that you’ll be keeping fit, staying Paleo, and enjoying the festive cheer all at the same time.

Paleo Eggnog

For some of us, Eggnog is a Christmas tradition. It’s certainly one I don’t want to say goodbye to. It’s a great drink to warm you up, whilst still tasting incredible. Plus, if you happen to like drinking a small tipple during the day to get your through that inevitable festive awkwardness (you know, the one where you see some members of your family only once a year and aren’t sure what to say), then you can always add a little bit of vodka to the mix.

Step 3) Add the egg and sugar mix to the pan and bring to the boil whilst stirring.

Step 4) Drop in the vanilla, mix, and serve.

Pigs in Blankets (with Dates)

In case you don’t know what Pigs in Blankets are, they’re small sausages rolled in bacon. Absolutely delicious. The only problem is that they’re not Christmas Dinner Paleo-safe. Well, in the hopes of preserving this Christmas tradition, I’ve come up with a slight twist on this with Dates in Blankets.

Ingredients:

10 Dates (duh!)

5 Thick slices of Bacon (double duh!)

10 Almonds

Method:

Step 1) Put an almond in each of the Dates.

Step 2) Cut each slice of Bacon in half, then wrap each half around each of the Dates.

Step 3) Cook at 400 °F (200 °C) for 30 minutes.

Step 4) Enjoy one of the best Dates you’ll have ever eaten.

Roasted Vegetables

Yet another festival tradition which shouldn’t be overlooked. Roasted Vegetables are… without a doubt… the second most important item on the menu. Well, they are for me. I can’t really enjoy a Christmas dinner – even a Christmas Dinner which is Paleo Ok – without a good side helping of vegetables. I’ve gone with Carrots here, but you can generally pick whatever vegetables you prefer.

Step 2) Place Carrots into a roasting dish and cover with the sauce you have made.

Step 3) Place the Carrots into the over and cook for 30 minutes on around 400 °F (200 °C).

Remember: You can replace the vegetables with whatever you want. You can also increase the portion size, just make sure that you increase the mix size as well.

Paleo-Happy Christmas Chicken

You can’t have Christmas Dinner without a centerpiece. That centerpiece for us is going to have to be a Chicken; Christmas Dinner Paleo-ok Chicken.

You’re going to have a large number of different things you will have to put together for this. Also, it’s going to have to cook for a long time, so make sure that you put aside enough prep time to make it perfect. After all, a good Christmas Chicken is the difference between

Ingredients:

1 Whole Chicken (4 pounds / 2 kg)

1 tbsp. Salt

2 tbsp. Black Pepper

1 tbsp. minced Garlic

½ Cp. Olive Oil (Vegetable is also ok)

1 tbsp. Chopped Thyme

1 tbsp. Chopped Parsley

2 Springs Rosemary

1 Lemon (Vital!)

For the Gravy:

Baby Turnips (¼ Pound / 200 grams)

Carrots (16 Oz / 450 grams)

1 Stalk Celery

¼ Cp. Olive Oil

Method:

For the Chicken:

Step 1) Mentally prepare yourself for a lot of cooking and preheat the oven to 475 °F (250 °C).

Step 2) Wash and dry the Chicken.

Step 3) Season the Chicken with the ½ Cp. Olive Oil, Garlic, Parsley, and Thyme. Makes sure to rub it all over.

Step 4) Add the salt and pepper on top.

Step 5) Squeeze the Lemons into the Chicken and place the rings inside. Take the Turnips, Carrots, 1/4 Cp. Olive Oil, and Celery, and place around the Chicken in the roasting pan.

Step 6) Roast for 1 hour, making sure that the vegetables turn soft. If need be, make sure to mix the vegetables at the bottom of the pan to ensure that they soak up as much moisture as possible.

For the Gravy:

Step 1) After having taken the Chicken out of the roasting pan, pour the juices into a sperate pan and mix.

Step 2) Add water, and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3) Bring to the boil and let sit for around 10 minutes (at least).

Enjoy Christmas Dinner Paleo-Safe

Hopefully, the recipe ideas above can help make your Christmas Dinner just that extra bit special. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting around the table with your friends and family enjoying one of the best healthy meals you’ve ever had – and it will be Paleo.

Whilst your family is digging into incredible looking and smelling food, you’ll be able to as well. They might even be jealous.

Agness, I love these recipes – thanks! I like to have several healthy options for people along with the Christmas treats! So thanks for these great ideas! I love the Dates in Blankets especially – I maybe will bring them to a party!

Although I’m not strictly Paleo Agness, I would still go for any of these deliciously healthy recipes. Especially for me the roasted vegetables. I love the thought of those garlicky tasting coconut oil covered carrots!

I love ideas that are delicious and allows me to be healthy during the holidays because I know I can go a bit overboard with the holiday treats haha! 🙂 I will be trying the pigs in the blanket with dates for everyone this year! 😀

It’s so cool that you incorporated your paleo diet with some Christmas classics. I’ve never had Pigs in Blankets before but I know I would appreciate it with dates. Roasted veggies are delicious! Thanks for sharing some healthier alternatives :).

I will be trying your version of pigs in blankets although will be using turkey bacon 🙂 really looking forward to it! Also the roast chicken always sounds like a lot of work but it’s mostly prep and the end result is always so worth it 🙂

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Hi, I’m Agness, and as you might have guessed, I love to run! Being born in Poland, and traveling to various destinations around the world, I’ve always been attracted to the freedom that running offers, not to mention that it’s a great way to keep fit, stay in shape and live an awesome healthy lifestyle.